SKorea still hoping to see NHL players in Olympics

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean Olympic organizers still hope to see NHL players competing at next year’s Winter Games despite the National Hockey League’s insistence it won’t happen.

A spokeswoman for the Pyeongchang 2018 organizing committee said Tuesday there’s still time for “meaningful discussions” on Olympic participation between the NHL, NHL Players’ Association, International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committee.

Nancy Park says the organizing committee is still hopeful that a “solution will be found for 2018.”

The NHL has announced it will not participate in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, refusing for the first time in 20 years to halt its season for three weeks so its stars can chase gold for their home countries.